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| This Week's Titles: |
| Using
Stem Cells To Help Fight The War On Terror |
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Drought Reduces Populations
Of Several Insects |
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| Making
The Switch From Grass To Biofuels |
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| Get
All The Facts About Free Trial Offers |
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| Easing
Clutter Problems In Homes |
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| Using
Stem Cells To Help Fight The War On Terror |
1:49 |
Thanks to college research,
stem cells may soon be used to help fight the war on terror. |
We've all heard the debates
about the use of stem cells by doctors and others in the medical
profession. For the past two years, scientists with the University
of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
have been studying ways stem cell technology could help improve
national security. The technique involves using a device like
a tool box that contains neural cells that can detect several
hazardous agents. "You'd be able to use the stem cells as a
early warning for a chemical threat, something like nerve gas,
that might be in an area that troops are in. It has applications
beyond that even here at home for homeland defense, and also
has applications for water quality to detect any type of industrial
toxins or insecticides that might be in our water as well."
That was Steve Stice with the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. The current system being studied can detect a chemical
agent, but it can't identify the agent. Scientists hope to further
develop the system so that for some chemicals there are signs
that will lead to a way to rapidly identify exactly what the
chemical is. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Drought
Reduces Populations Of Several Insect Pests |
1:41 |
Homeowners can thank the drought
for reducing the numbers of certain insect pests in their landscape
gardens. |
Many farmers and homeowners
have been wringing their hands hoping to squeeze some water
out of the air, to help out parched crops and plants. But an
entomologist with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences says this year's drought conditions
reduced the numbers of Japanese beetles and spittlebugs in parts
of the state. "And Japanese beetles, because they lay their
eggs in the turf and then they require quite a bit of water
for the eggs to hatch, during drier conditions we may receive
the benefit that they tend not to over posit so much and that
the eggs have more difficulty hatching and the larvae have greater
difficulty developing." That was Kris Braman with the College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The latest reports
indicate Japanese beetle numbers are significantly lower in
Central Georgia. Spittle bug numbers are lower across most of
the state. While the drought reduced the numbers of Japanese
beetles and spittle bugs, other insects thrived and increased
their numbers. These include chinch bugs, and Lantana lace bugs.
So when you look at the overall insect picture, it appears this
years drought did some giving and taking with their populations.
John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Making
The Switch From Grass To Biofuels |
1:56 |
College scientists are conducting
research with a plant that could help flip the switch to biofuels. |
Nearly everyone has heard
about the use of corn and wood products to produce ethanol,
and other alternative fuels. For the past ten to fifteen years,
scientists with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences have been studying switch grass,
seeking to develop the grass into ethanol. Switch grass is commonly
grown for cattle feed in the Midwest. In Georgia the grass can
be found growing in clumps six feet tall, and has yellow foliage
in the fall. The research could lead to the development of switch
grass varieties that are more economical for ethanol production.
But first wild samples are needed from the state to develop
other switch grass varieties. "We'd like to get samples from
around the state or really around the Southeast. And we've been
asking if people know of any remnant patches around that they
might have on their farm or might have known from hiking or
something, to let us know and we can go and collect seed this
fall." That was Charlie Brummer with the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, who will use standard breeding and
field evaluation to study the different varieties. Studies will
also be conducted at the genetic level. When the studies are
complete, university scientists will breed switch grass varieties
that the market, and the U.S. bioenergy industry will need and
demand for ethanol production. John Harrell, University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting
from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Get
All The Facts About Free Trial Offers |
1:42 |
When it comes to those free
trial offers, consumers need to make sure they know just the
facts, before making a decision. |
Most of us have seen or
heard trial offers advertised on television, radio, or in internet
advertisements. The service or product may sound good, but a
consumer economic specialist with the University of Georgia's
College of Family and Consumer Sciences says take time to ask
questions and get all the facts, so you can make the right decision.
This includes knowing the date the trial time period expires.
"You need to know the details of the offer and you should hang
on to any written information that you get that discloses the
terms of the agreement. Mark that date on your calendar and
make sure that you know when that is and if you find out a week
or two into the trial that you don't like the product go ahead
and send it back then, don't wait until the end of the trial
period." Michael Rupured with the College of Family and Consumer
Sciences, who adds consumers also need to know about refund
and return policies. If you receive a free trial offer for a
product that sounds suspicious, or the company is one you are
not familiar with, contact your local better business bureau,
or the Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, and give
them the details of the offer, and the company making the free
trial offer. Reputable companies provide complete information
on the terms and limitations of the trial offer consumers need
to know. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Easing
Clutter Problems In Homes |
1:32 |
Many people have a clutter
problem that is taking over parts of their home. |
Most people have at least
one drawer, closet, room, or storage shed that is out of control,
and bursting at the seams. The heart says most of that clutter
needs to go, but the head reminds you about the hours it will
take to go through all that stuff. Michael Rupured, a consumer
economic specialist with the University of Georgia's College
of Family and Consumer Sciences says small steps may be the
best solution to clear up a large clutter problem. "You might
want to think about breaking this up into smaller tasks, like
perhaps tackling one room at a time or one closet at a time,
even one drawer at a time, depending on how much you are dealing
with. It might make sense to see if you can get a team of your
friends or family members to come for the weekend and help you
to go through all this." Michael Rupured with the College of
Family and Consumer Sciences. Getting on top of the clutter
is one of those jobs that actually seems worse than it actually
is. Even if it is a lot of work, knowing all of that stuff crowding
you out has been dealt with makes it well worth the effort.
John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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